Proposed game trophy hunting ban resurrects ivory debate

Susan Haighassociated Press

Published 9:00 am, Sunday, March 13, 2016

HARTFORD — A bill that would ban the spoils of big game trophy hunting from coming to Connecticut is prompting outcry from museums and antique dealers who say the legislation could prevent them from exhibiting or selling antique pieces of ivory.

This year's bill stems from last summer's killing of a famous African lion named Cecil by an American hunter.

The dealers are upset with language in the bill that partly describes the banned specimens as "any part" of the animal.

A similar argument was made last year about a bill banning ivory.

Nicole Rivard from Friends of Animals says the bill is not intended to criminalize antique dealers. Her group is now offering an amendment that spells out how the bill would not affect legal ivory or ivory products.